Light Changes Everything: Light Brings Peace

Light Brings Peace

In the Old Testament, peace carries the fundamental meaning of welfare, prosperity, or wholeness as well as the absence of hostility. In the time of the New Testament writings, there was a Roman concept of peace that believed that peace only came through war, but the Scriptures show a dependence on the Jewish understanding of peace. It refers to prosperity, which climaxes in the peace that Messiah brings. Jesus achieved messianic peace by means of His death on the cross, which reconciled people to God and to one another.

In Luke 2:25-32, we see that Simeon was promised that he would live to see "the Lord's Christ". Mary and Joseph brought Jesus into the temple, and Simeon "took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 'Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word.'"

God is faithful to keep His promises to mankind after the fall and the breaking of shalom (peace/wholeness). In Isaiah 9:6, the prophet says, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

1. The Prince of Peace turned the light on - The incarnation of Jesus being born on earth brought light to a dark world. (Is 9:2, Psalm 118, Rom 5:1)
2. The Prince of Peace lights up with His Word - John 1:1 says, "and the Word was God". (Psalm 119)
3. The Prince of Peace is with us - He promises to always walk with us. Peace is not the absence of war, but the presence of Jesus Christ.

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May the God of hope

fill you with all joy and peace

as you trust in Him,

so that you may overflow with hope

by the power of the Holy Spirit.

~Romans 15:13

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Questions to consider:

1. What brings you peace?
2. What brings you anxiety and fear? Peter 5:7 says to "cast your cares on Him". Share a fear or concern that you have in life, and pray about that as you give it to Jesus.
3. Christmas is a time of anticipation. What are you most looking forward to this month?
4. Waiting is a dynamic process, not a passive one. One thing that followers of Jesus are waiting for is heaven. How are you actively waiting now for that day of complete peace?

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